12 April 2017

Mayor makes waves p3

A beach for dogs? p5

Easter fun for all p16-19

Published every Wednesday by CXpress 2006 (Pty) Ltd - PO Box 1449, Plettenberg Bay 6600 - 6 Park Lane, Plettenberg Bay - Tel: 044 533 1004 - Fax: 044 533 0852 Email: editor@cxpress.co.za / advertising@cxpress.co.za Web page: www.cxpress.co.za Printed by Group Editors

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Kelly and Terence Nel were among thousands of Garden Routers who took a stand against president Jacob Zuma, who turns 75 today, during last Friday’s countrywide protests.

Judging from the collective rage, a vast majority of birthday wishes may well be for him to step down - read more on page 4.

Photo: RenĂŠe Bull

12 April 2017

the bedroom shop furniture & linen emporium

10 000 free copies of cxpress distributed along the garden route every wednesday

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CXPRESS

News & Views

12 April 2017

Jogging Down Memory Lane

Derek Frielinghaus

Illegal immigrants… in Plettenberg Bay?

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HE 1970s… In an echo of the prevailing political storm in the country, there was wild weather out at sea. A few large fishing vessels took shelter in our bay and, the following morning, a group of about 10 men were gathered outside Monks Supermarket.

Their loud chatter in an unrecognisable language and their elaborate gesticulations attracted a great deal of attention in what was then a rather insular Plett.

There was also a fair amount of apprehension, because all foreigners were suspect and could not simply step ashore wherever they felt like.

Enter Plett’s Mr Plod, aka police sergeant Dirk Vermeulen. As always, he was meticulously polite as he attempted to establish the group’s origins.

After much pointing at the sea and vigorous nodding all round, he tried without success to get the men to present their passports.

Another policeman joined Dirk, but his attempts to establish the official status of the foreigners were equally unsuccessful.

Frustration levels increased all round and the crowd on Monks’ veranda swelled in direct proportion to the growing entertainment value of what now appeared to be a standoff.

One of the bystanders was an elderly customer at Monks (mind you, most of our cus-

THIS AIN’T NO MONASTERY: This photo of Monks in Plett’s main street was taken in 1976, around the time when the author - then shop owner - witnessed what seemed to be a gathering of illegal immigrants

tomers were elderly!).

Short in stature, imposing in presence, and with a rather loud voice which she frequently exercised in the store, she shouted something unintelligible to the men.

Dirk turned to her with a pleading look on his face. He asked rather plaintively if she recognised the language, to which she retorted that of course she did - the men came from her home country.

“Italy!” she finished proudly.

Then, stepping in as leading lady in the unfolding drama, the customer engaged in a voluble discourse with the group.

She matched them gesture

for gesture and, although it looked like chaos to the rest of us, she seemed to be making sense of the information which came at her from 10 different sources - all at the same time.

This was her moment of glory and she was going to milk it for all she was worth, so it was a while before she turned to Dirk with a grin on her face.

Yes, she explained, the men had come from the direction in which Dirk had been pointing but they were not illegal immigrants from the strange boats in the bay. In fact, they were all employed as carpenters at the Beacon Island Hotel building project!

Perhaps there was some disappointment as this drama, which promised so many arrests, subsided into a perfectly logical and acceptable explanation. But most people saw the funny side and there was much laughter, back-slapping, and handshaking all round before the street returned to its normal, sedate state.

• If you have stories to share of the Garden Route’s good old days, email your reminiscences to haus@mweb.co.za (with or without your name), or drop it off in hard copy at the CXPRESS office at 6 Park Lane in Plett CBD.

NEWS & VIEWS

12 April 2017

CXPRESS

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DA’s Dave Swart claims by-election in Plett with a landslide win

The Democratic Alliance in Bitou retained Ward 2 after last week’s by-elections, with more than 86% of total votes cast - YOLANDÉ STANDER reports ESPITE a rainy latter part of last Wednesday’s voting day, more than 3,500 of the 5,348 regis-

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tered voters in the ward - which includes residents south of Piesang River to the border of Kranshoek,

north of the Piesang to Bitou River, and Bossiesgif headed to the polls.

The by-election resulted from the fact that the ward became vacant earlier this year, when former DA councillor Wayne Craig handed in his resignation.

The ward was contested by the DA’s Dave Swart, the ANC’s Thobeka Memani,

Outcome of weekend talks should clarify political state of affairs in Bitou DIVORCE ON THE CARDS? Bitou mayor Peter Lobese is flanked by AUF activist Yedwa Mayila, left, and party candidate Mike Kantey during a meeting preceding last week’s Ward 2 by-election - the mayor announced shortly before vote day that the AUF/ ANC marriage may be on the rocks Photo: Timothy Twidle

Yolandé Stander

OLITICAL uncertainty in Bitou should come to an end this week after the Active United Front (AUF) announced that it would have clarity over discussions around terminating the party’s coalition with the ANC - this after AUF mayor Peter Lobese made a call to end this alliance on April 4.

Lobese issued a statement saying that his party’s relationship with the ANC in Bitou had soured over the past seven months, making it “impossible to justify” the coalition.

His statement was released in solidarity with the rest of the country in protest against president Jacob Zuma, following among other issues his recent cabinet reshuffle that saw the country’s economy take a nosedive.

“I join the rest of South Africans at home and abroad who are troubled and pained by this ‘rogue’ president to make the point that our country cannot afford him, and nothing must be done to assist him to con-

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tinue being in office even for one day.”

Lobese called on all parties in similar situations in various municipalities nationwide to pull out of these coalitions.

AUF spokesman Thembani Lobese said during a media briefing last Thursday that the party had thrown its weight behind the mayor and needed to make a decision on “whether the AUF/ ANC marriage in Bitou” was working or not.

The mayor said his statement had created a lot of controversy, but that he had made it as the mayor of Bitou. “When I was inaugurated as mayor, I made it clear that I was representing the entire Bitou and the statement has to do with that responsibility.”

He said the coalition agreement that guided the relationship between the two parties had not been implemented and that the parties differed on key issues.

He added that a service-delivery plan had been drawn up as part of the agreement, but seven months down the

line it was still in draft form and not signed.

The mayor claimed that the ANC had thwarted attempts to establish clean administration and commit resources to address the difficulties faced by Bitou residents, thus establishing themselves as “enemies of the people we are required to serve”.

He said he had hoped that the ANC’s national leadership would remedy the situation, but that the events around Zuma had “destroyed any hope” of a turnaround.

Lobese reiterated that when he had made the statement, he did so “as the mayor - a deployee of the AUF” and this was not enough to officially terminate the coalition.

He concluded that his party would engage with ANC leadership structures over the weekend about, among others, the exit clauses of the agreement.

Without the coalition Bitou has a hung council, both the DA and ANC having six seats, and the AUF one.

Mike Kantey of the Active United Front (AUF), and the EFF’s Nzuzo Ndinisa.

Swart, however, won the ward with a landslide 3,049 (86.33%) of the total valid votes.

Memani garnered 335 of the votes, Kantey received 112, and Ndinisa 36.

The status quo therefore remains in Bitou where the DA has six seats in council, the ANC six, and the AUF a single seat.

While the area is currently being run by a coalition government between the

ANC and the AUF, AUF mayor Peter Lobese last week announced that the coalition was on the rocks and that the possibility of terminating the agreement was being discussed [see the report below].

Bitou was one of six municipalities in which ward by-elections were held on Wednesday, including some in Gauteng, KwaZuluNatal, Mpumalanga, and North West.

DA PR councillor, current Eden mayor and former Bitou mayor Memory

Booysen had also in the meantime handed in his resignation.

Booysen said he had decided to step down as Bitou councillor to focus on his position as Eden mayor, as the balancing act between the two had become increasingly difficult.

He added that there would be no by-election for his seat, as a “swap” would be made with a councillor from Eden Municipality.

Mpumelelo Ndayi would take over Booysen’s role in Bitou.

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CXPRESS

News & Views

12 April 2017

Garden Route joins in call for Zuma to ‘hamba’

Thousands of Plettenberg Bay and Knysna residents stood in solidarity with the rest of the country’s call for president Jacob Zuma to step down - YOLANDÉ STANDER reports

HAMBA, SUKA, ETC: Well over a thousand people marched the length of Plett’s Main Street and back on April 7, holding aloft placards and chanting ‘Zuma must fall’ over a cacophony of vuvuzelas and drumming - Photos: Timothy Twidle

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UMA must fall! Zuma must fall! That was the prevailing sentiment of chants after more than a thousand Plett locals and visitors took hands and sang the national anthem in the town’s Main Street at 12pm last Friday.

Similar gatherings took place in Knysna and Sedgefield - this after a national outcry over Zuma’s recent decision to sack, for a second time, Finance minister Pravin Gordhan and his deputy, Mcebisi Jonas, during a cabinet reshuffle over

a week ago.

The decision had taken its toll on South Africa’s economy and the country has since been downgraded to junk status by not only Standard & Poor, but also Fitch.

This led to nationwide marches and gatherings by South Africans on Friday for Zuma to step down.

Three gatherings took place in Plettenberg Bay. The one in Main Street was organised by residents and saw locals from different political parties, ages, races

and religious backgrounds stand side-by-side in protest against the president.

Participants came holding posters saying ‘Hamba Zuma’, ‘Zuma is not my President’, and ‘No to state capture’.

There were no speeches, since the gathering was not a political activity but rather a community event.

Between 12 noon and 3pm, another gathering was held in The Crags on the corner of Redford Road and the N2, with the third taking place at 3pm on Central Beach. But

the rain that fell that afternoon resulted in only a handful of people making their way to the beach.

“We can understand that only a few showed up, but we have shown that we care - we stood up and were counted,” resident Jean Sparg said to those huddled under umbrellas.

The small group, however, made their voices heard with an emotional rendition of the national anthem before they dispersed.

In neighbouring Knysna, about a thousand people

KNYSNA UNITES: About a thousand people gathered at Memorial Square in Knysna - Photo: Supplied

gathered in the town’s Memorial Square.

While mayor Eleanore Bouw-Spies could not attend due to illness, she said that while she could not join the national outcry to have Zuma removed, she believed in the cause.

“Stand tall, stand strong, and show the world that we are serious about this call,” Bouw-Spies said.

In Sedgefield, a large group of residents gathered along the N2 through the town carrying anti-Zuma posters.

Garden Route Media

ANTI-ZUMA: On Central Beach, this group’s poster read ‘you steal our children’s future’ - Photo: Timothy Twidle

NEWS & VIEWS

12 April 2017

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CXPRESS

Beach-leash issue in the spotlight as free-dog petition springs from Plett pooch furore A massive row erupted on social media last week after Bitou Law Enforcement officers handed out fines to people accompanied by off-leash dogs on Robberg Beach - NIKKI RIDLEY reports

BORN FREE: There’s much to be said for designating a beach area in Plett where dogs can frolic sans restraint - Photo: Diane Goosen

ANY dog-lovers and those fined expressed anger at the perceived unfairness of not being allowed to let dogs run free on the beach. There were also numerous comments along the lines of ‘Why are Law Enforcement bothering us when they could be chasing after criminals?

And why so many law enforcement officers together (there having been five on the day the row erupted)?’

Chief Officer of Bitou Law Enforcement (BLE) Andile Sakati explained that his mandate is to ensure compliance with municipal by-laws, not other criminal activity or crime prevention, which is the responsibility of the SAPS. He added that it is standard protocol that they work in groups for safety reasons and, in this case, as pro-

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tection against aggression or attacks from canines.

Something Sakati stated had happened before when an angry owner set his dogs on BLE officers.

However, the ‘row’ has led to local resident and ‘campaigner for the cause’ Diane Goosen setting up a petition on Avaaz - specifically to make the area between Sanctuary Beach and The Wreck a ‘run-free’ zone.

The petition states: “We understand the impact humans and animals alike have on the environment, however, we feel it is absolutely necessary to respect all game players here in our bay and assign a part of Robberg Beach (Sanctuary to The Wreck) to the many dog lovers and walkers to let their dogs run free in a responsible manner.”

In the aftermath of the

social media activity, some residents have expressed concern regarding the impact on Robberg 5’s Blue Flag status should dogs be permitted off leash. But the Sanctuary to Wreck section of Robberg is not Blue Flag - if it were, dogs wouldn’t be allowed there at all, on or off leash, as per Blue Flag criteria for beaches, implemented nationally by Wessa (Wildlife and Environment Society of SA).

A spokesperson at the Wessa office in Cape Town confirmed that since dogs are not permitted on Blue Flag beaches anyway, on-leash or off, dogs running free on a neighbouring beach (Sanctuary to Wreck, specifically) will not affect the Blue Flag status of Robberg 5. As long as dogs don’t access or leave via Robberg 5.

At the time of going to

press, a statement regarding the matter was awaited from Bitou ’s Beach Manager.

Dr Mark Brown of Nature’s Valley Trust affirmed some facts regarding both the law and common transgressions, arguments over which peppers online conversation every time there is a social media outcry about dogs on beaches.

“By-laws currently don’t allow dogs off leashes anywhere. My speculation is that data collected by Wessa beach stewards over this past season have highlighted the high transgression rate of certain by-laws, particularly those pertaining to dogs on leashes. I suspect it is this

that has led to law enforcement being more pro-active on this front,” said Brown.

He added: “We have spent four years trying to educate people in Plett on the impact unleashed dogs have on breeding birds, and why the by-laws are there in the first place. We are by no means anti-dogs on beaches. We believe there are sustainable win-win solutions that can see us co-exist, or Share the Shore!”

Brown also commented in support of the need for an area where dogs can run free - perhaps to the benefit of more sensitive areas.

“Sanctuary to the Wreck has two pairs of white-front-

ed plovers trying to breed there. Due to disturbance. they have not raised a single chick in three summers.

“However, we feel this small sacrifice of two pairs is worth making, if it enables dog owners a safe legal place to let dogs off leash. The flipside is that we would want stricter controls on Lookout Beach, where 18 pairs of plovers, 10 pairs of oystercatchers, over 100 pairs of gulls, and several other species all breed.”

• To access the petition, Google ‘unleashed in Plett’.

At the time of going to press, the petition already reached 384 signatures.

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CXPRESS

News & Views

12 April 2017

Plans afoot to reclaim Lookout Rocks ‘badlands’ for Plettenberg Bay and its tourists

Feedback after a meeting held on April 6 at The Plettenberg hotel to address the problem of crime in the Lookout Rocks area details components of an ‘ambitious and comprehensive’ plan that received much support from all in attendance - NIKKI RIDLEY reports

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LETTENBERG Bay Crime Prevention Association (PBCPA) chairman Bruce Richardson said a meeting was called by members of the Association and Plett Watch after two incidents during which tourists were mugged close to Lookout Rocks in the past few weeks.

“The meeting was very well attended by a broad spectrum ranging from senior and relevant municipal employees, a senior officer from Municipal Law Enforcement, the PBCPA, Plett Watch, SAPS, security companies, the Environmental Forum, Ward 2 politicians, and other interested parties.”

Richardson said attendees were advised that Bitou Municipality had deployed dedicated security patrols in the area during daylight hours after the recent muggings, while The Plettenberg hotel had also instituted security patrols and escorts for guests wishing to use the path to Lookout Deck restaurant at night.

ROOTING OUT THE BAD: Bitou Law Enforcement officers Mzothando Seyisi and Luvuyo Hlela, right, take a stand against crime in front of coastal thicket at the Lookout Rocks, which they patrol to protect holidaymakers and local strollers - Photo: Nikki Ridley

No further incidents had been reported since then.

However, he added it had become apparent that a “far more comprehensive solution” was required to achieve elimination of criminal activity here.

He said stakeholders agreed that a long-term solution was needed - one that also involved reha-

bilitation of the area, and which needed to be followed through “to its conclusion”.

The plan comprises a number of suggestions and calls to action, in the short-term including improvement in private security by stakeholders, and 24-hour patrols to keep out bush sleepers and intercept known criminals hanging around in the

area with intent.

Shacks should be destroyed and new ones prevented from being built, while the distribution of warning literature and appropriate signage “until the area becomes secure” also form part of the plan, as well as “signage stating that overnight informal stays in the area are prohibited”.

Suggested long-term solutions include (though they are not restricted to) regular SAPS patrols, support from PBCPA and Plett Watch with clearing and patrolling, and an upgrade of the entire area into a safe ‘Pride of Plett’ eco-park that tourists are encouraged to visit.

Consideration was also given to the fact that the area is beautiful and forms part of a unique coastal vegetation corridor. This eco-park would ideally have “heightened levels of municipal, public, and eco involvement, so it is constantly inhabited by persons carrying out the relevant functions”.

It is furthermore suggested that this eco-park features dedicated paths and walkways; that bush (mainly alien vegetation) be cut back to lift the canopy and “eliminate all unofficial paths on a permanent basis”, and that signage warn visitors to follow designated paths only, as has been done in other public areas

such as Robberg Peninsula.

Richardson said a number of working committees had been formed to ensure the continuity of all components.

“It is fervently hoped that the town as a whole will embrace and support the project, much like the Plett Clean campaign, seeing the massive benefit of reclaiming this beautiful part of town and turning it from a liability to a significant eco-asset that we can all enjoy in safety.”

Involvement is required from a number of parties, from the Tourism Board, CapeNature, and the Public Works department to Plett Ratepayers Association, while local businesses are called on to offer sponsorship under the leadership of a dedicated project coordinator.

“Rather than abandon this area as the badlands from which criminal activity will continue to infest the rest of Plett, let us rehabilitate it and kill two birds with one stone.”

PROMOTION

12 April 2017

CXPRESS

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NEWS & VIEWS

12 April 2017

George now welcomes fatter flyers HE Southern Cape’s most important aviation hub, George Airport on Monday got the goahead from the SA Civil Aviation Authority to upgrade from a CAT 7 to a CAT 8 aerodrome.

This means that the regional airport is now able to receive larger aircraft and that it complies with regulations for additional aircraft rescue, as well as that firefighting personnel has sufficient fire tenders for the category hike.

The upgrade was processed after a request was received for an A310-300 aircraft - owned by a private individual from the Middle East, who visits a Karoo game farm annually with his family - to land at George Airport.

When this process was

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GO BIG! Passengers disembark the A310-300 aircraft owned by a Middle Eastern national before visiting his family’s favourite Karoo game farm - the craft, which directly resulted in George Airport’s recent upgrade to CAT 8 status, can be seen parked in the precinct until April 13

concluded, the craft in question landed on April 7 with 24 passengers and five crew members. It is at the airport precinct until April 13, when it will return to the Middle East.

“We are exceptionally pleased to have received exemption from the Civil

Aviation Authority to upgrade to CAT 8, allowing us to accommodate an A310-300 aircraft,” said George Airport manager Brenda Vorster.

“This is good news for regional tourism and a feather in the cap of George Airport. We have

Knysna’s draft budget on the table URING a special council meeting on March 30, Knysna mayor Eleanore Bouw-Spies tabled a first draft of the Medium-Term Revenue and Expenditure Framework (MTREF) issued by the municipality’s current political leadership.

This MTREF gives direction to administration on how the municipality can realise requirements defined and articulated during a strategic session in February.

“The MTREF speaks to inclusive economic growth that would provide sustainable jobs and broaden the local tax base, among others,” explained Bouw-Spies.

She added that a critical consideration of this inclusive economic growth would be to position Knysna as an investment destination of choice, enhancing Greater Knysna’s potential, diversifying the local economy and changing the ownership patterns within the current primary and

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secondary sectors of the economy in accordance with national essentials.

Bouw-Spies highlighted economic indicators that were taken into account in the municipal financial strategies, preparation of the MTREF for 2017/8, and the two outer years.

“Global recovery after the 2008 financial crisis remains slow with growth forecast at 3.1% in 2016 and 3.4% in 2017.”

She added that Knysna Municipality needed to improve its efforts to limit non-priority spending and to implement stringent cost-containment measures.

According to BouwSpies, infrastructure is viewed as an important means of promoting sustainable growth and reducing poverty.

“As we all have seen with conditions of our roads, current water challenges and continued tripping of electricity, provision of economic infrastructure is the only necessary condition for economic growth

in the Greater Knysna municipal area.”

The mayor further discussed the capital budget that flows from the Integrated Development Plan (IDP) process.

Total funded capital projects for the 2017/8 financial year amounts to R123.1m with the main focus on water infrastructure (R27.7m), electricity (R23.8m), sanitation (R10.6m), refuse removal (R1.2m), and roads infrastructure (R9.7m).

The capital budget is funded by means of grants from national government in the amount of R32.6m, provincial grants in the region of R22.6m, loan funding in the amount of R36.6m, and R31.3m of own funding.

The operating budget for 2017/8 amounts to a surplus of R51.6m, which represents a decrease of R26.7m or 34.1% under the 2016/7 adjusted budget.

“The draft budget tabled is a beginning step in attaining the municipality’s

displayed professionalism and proved that we have the staffing and infrastructure to welcome larger aircraft with more passengers.

“The move will also support the growth of tourism industries and companies within the region,” she said.

Airports Company SA (ACSA) boasts six regional airports which include Uppington, East London, Bram Fischer (Bloemfontein), Kimberley, Port Elizabeth and George airports.

Under ACSA, these airports have played a pivotal role in boosting regional tourism and supporting the economic and social development of South Africa’s more remote regions.

strategic goals. This includes municipal transformation and organisational development, basic service delivery to all communities, financial viability and transformation, excellence in admin, transparency, and public participation.

“I am convinced that it will contribute to our new vision: Inclusive, Innovative, and Inspired.”

In closing she requested that all members of her Mayoral Committee and all councillors contribute to this draft budget as they engage in community participation process, adding that the Municipal Manager and his team would be available and would continue to provide administrative support.

Members of ward committees and of the public, as well as all relevant stakeholder are to ensure that they participate fully.

“I would like to re-emphasise my invitation to all stakeholders to contribute in the public participation process before the budget is submitted to council for final approval.”

Ground-breaking fibre optic project gets ON with it!

NYSNA’S new highspeed fibre optics project, KnysnaOn, is now officially under way after deputy mayor Peter Myers presided over its breakingground ceremony at Knysna Fire Station on April 7.

The project - by ISP company LaserNet and its infrastructure installation and management partners, Sizwe Connect - aims to bring economic development to Knysna, Sedgefield and surrounds, by providing world-class connectivity that will enable information and communications technology businesses to establish themselves in the area.

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“Friday marked the end of a long period of planning, and the start of five years of phased installation of the infrastructure,” said Lasernet General Manager, Alan Otto.

He said that in the period since launching the project in April last year, LaserNet has procured access to, and implemented services on, a national fibre backbone, and that it has installed both a high-speed microwave link to Sedgefield, and a number of free, public wifi hotspots.

“Our clients are already utilising more than 500Mbps, and that’s just the beginning,” he said.

This year will see the installation of fibre to Knysna’s CBD, Costa Sarda, Old Place, the industrial area, Hunters Home, Leisure Isle, Rexford and Brenton-on-Lake, which will deliver access to cloud computing, security services, video-on-demand platforms, and social media to all residents and businesses in the district.

“The project will create local employment opportunities during the construction phase, and in the longer term it will enhance property values, and make it easier for bigger business to set up shop in Knysna because

they’ll no longer be constrained by connectivity.

“We're proud and excited to be part of this initiative to bring real broadband to the people of Knysna and Sedgefield because it will enable business, training and advancement opportunities, and because it will make it possible to offer free internet to people living in disadvantaged areas.

“Connectivity can do amazing things for the economies of small towns, and we're looking forward to seeing that happen here,” Otto said.

Visit www.knysnaON. co.za for more info.

12 April 2017 CXPRESS News & Views

Benefactor sends Bitou 10 boffins to Scifest 2017

SEEING SCIENCE CLEARLY: Linda Mehlo learns exciting new stuff during one of the Scifest Africa workshops

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IX of Murray High School’s sharpest science students and their teacher, Mrs Anathi Mkosi Tyontwana, attended Scifest Africa in Grahamstown recently.

Phelokazi Kolisi, Lilitha Bongoza, Phumalela Fatuse, Sisonke Gqirhana, Linda Mehlo, and Zintle Ncedani attended 17 workshops, also accompanied by Mr Andre Bouwer, who generously offered his time to drive them to and from the expo.

Scifest Africa affords SA’s and the world’s leading scientists the opportunity to share their work, to make science accessible to all, to network with one another, to provide career guidance, and to act as role models for our youth.

Opportunities and events such as these inspire and encourage our youth to embark on career paths which were previously unknown to them, and to become leaders in these fields.

Says Veronique Fortune of Plett’s Bitou 10 Education Foundation (B10F): “We are proud of each of these hardworking students and we wish them every success within the field of science.

“Although the donor for this programme wished to remain anonymous, we applaud him for investing in the future of young scientists and for believing in the B10F vision. We appreciate you!”

• Turn to page 24 for more images.

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12 April 2017

Business

Plettenberg Bay RE/MAX agents rake in regional awards

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HE RE/MAX regional awards dinner for Eastern Cape and Garden Route agents who excelled during 2016 was held at The Boardwalk Hotel in Port Elizabeth recently.

It was a glittering affair which acknowledged representatives from Mossel Bay to East London - and everywhere in between.

RE/MAX Prime Properties in Plett was very well represented, with virtually every one of its agents receiving awards.

Rental expert Viola Jung together with sales agents Michelle Solomon and Charmaine Jordaan received Silver Status Awards, while Broker Owners Graham and Cheryl Anley as well as Lisa Ritchie, Robert Auersperg and Lana Machado received 100% Awards.

Sally Searle and Bruce Noble achieved the prestigious Platinum Award and Chairman’s Award respectively. Bruce was 2016’s Top Agent by registered sales for the Eastern Cape and Garden Route, while RE/MAX Plett was the region’s number two single office last year.

A great time was had by all and the team thanks all its administrative staff for a great combined effort along with the agents, allowing them to fly the RE/MAX Plett banner high and proudly on a vast regional scale.

See the advert on page 11 for contact details and current listings.

JUST DESERTS: This team of RE/MAX Plett agents recently collected heaps of accolades for a job well done - pictured above are, from left, Cecile Jacobs, Bruce Noble, Lisa Ritchie, Carman Hanson, Adrian Goslett, Sally Searle, Stephen Ritchie, Cheryl Anley, Viola Jung, Graham Anley, Cheryl van der Merwe, and Robert Auersperg; below and at the bottom of the page, Cheryl Anley and Bruce Noble are pictured receiving their awards from RE/MAX chief executive officers Amanda Cuba and Adrian Goslett

12 April 2017 CXPRESS Promotion

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Business

12 April 2017

Plett’s ‘Doctor Barnard’ is a picture of determination and academic excellence C

XPRESS congratulates well-known Plett resident Patrick Barnard, owner of Patrick Barnard Properties, who recently completed the doctoral programme in Psychology.

Not only was he awarded his PhD during a graduation ceremony on April 6, but was also nominated for a special award for this admirable achievement.

Pat, as most people know him, grew up in Plettenberg Bay and matriculated from Wittedrift High in 1974. After obtaining his Bachelor’s degree at Stellenbosch University, he joined the South African Defence Force (SADF) and continued to study part time, achieving his Honours and Master’s degrees through UNISA. During this time, Pat also completed various courses with the SADF and obtained the rank of Lieutenant Colonel - all of this by the age of 30!

He resigned from the SADF in 1988, when he moved to Plett with his young family. Setting new goals for himself,

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PROUD OF YOU: Real estate stalwart Pat Barnard achieved his PhD recently, and also walked away with a special award nomination for his extensive academic efforts

Pat started his own real estate business.

With his characteristic high standards, integrity and dedication, this business has grown successfully over the last 25

years, and continues to be respected and rated in the real estate industry.

Pat is a man who sets high goals for himself and about four years ago, he set off on a novel, but

not entirely unfamiliar, journey: he decided to fulfil one of his dreams by applying to be a student once again.

Working full time and running a buzzing business, Pat’s incredible resilience was tested many times as all his spare time was devoted to his studies. Fortunately, his passion for the subject and for learning combined to lighten the load.

Says Pat about this experience: “When one embarks on such a journey, God makes all things possible and seems to put exceptional people in your path to help you along.�

And Pat’s case was no exception. He says it is impossible to thank everyone who contributed to his success: “My family, supervisors and work colleagues all helped to make this possible, and to these people I can only say a very heart-felt ‘thank you’.�

Congratulations, Dr Pat Barnard, you’ve done your town, loved ones and clients particularly proud.

See the advert on the back page for contact details and current listings.

Regulator concerned about rising number of consumers pawning cars to obtain loans

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HE National Credit Regulator (NCR) recently voiced its concerns about the rising number of consumers who pawn their motor vehicles in order to obtain loans. “While pawning of assets for loans is allowed under the National Credit Act (NCA), the NCR would like to caution consumers against pawning their motor vehicles due to the high risk that they could lose them to pawn brokers if they are unable to repay the loans within the agreed time,�

says Nthupang Magolego, Senior Legal Advisor at the NCR. The NCA allows the pawn broker to keep the consumer’s pawned asset as security and to return the asset to the consumer once the loan is repaid.

If the loan is not repaid, the pawn broker can sell the asset and use the proceeds of the sale to settle the loan. “Consumers are advised to read the pawn broker’s credit agreement carefully to avoid signing agreements that trans-

fer ownership of their pawned assets to pawn brokers before they default. The pawned asset only serves as security for the loan and can only be sold if the consumer has not paid back the loan,�

Magolego says.

Pawn brokers keep the pawned asset at their own risk. “Over and above the loan that consumers must pay back, some pawn brokers also charge consumers illegal charges such as storage charges, resulting in very expensive loans,�

Magolego added.

A pawn transaction is a short-term credit transaction under the NCA. The interest which the pawn broker can charge is limited to 5% per month on the first loan and 3% per month on subsequent loans in one calendar year. “Pawning assets for loans should ideally be used for small amounts of loans, where small assets such as cellphones, laptops or similar assets are pawned,� concludes Magolego.

12 April 2017 CXPRESS Promotion

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PROMOTION

BUSINESS

12 April 2017

A nine-point blueprint for surviving the downgrade The most sensible response to South Africa being ‘junked’ is to follow the advice of Rudyard Kipling and “keep your head when all about you are losing theirs” - that’s the word from BERRY EVERITT, CEO of the Chas Everitt International property group AYS Everitt: “So much has been said and written in the past few days about the S&P decision to downgrade SA’s investment rating to junk status, and the terrible consequences it could have for ordinary South Africans.

“But unfortunately most of it is thin on advice about what consumers can and should be doing to mitigate those consequences. We would like to help remedy that, and have thus come up with a practical nine-point plan that people can start implementing right away.”

• Firstly, as in any negative situation, he says, the best response is not to let the opinions or actions of others cause you to panic or to fall into despair.

“It is human nature to get caught up in the hype, but this is really not a time to be making impulsive decisions based on hearsay, or on the other hand to feel so helpless that you do nothing.

“There are ways to cope with the economic fallout that getting junked is likely to cause, but the key is to keep a cool head, move fast, and have the nerve to stick to your plan over the coming months.”

• Secondly, if you have savings, keep only what is necessary in your ‘emergency fund’ that is easily accessible, and immediately divert the rest - and any other money you can - to paying off as much debt as possible.

“This may seem like a radical move but one of the worst effects of reaching junk status is that interest rates are likely to rise, and that hurts most when you have big debt,” says Everitt.

“You should always pay off the highest-interest rate debts first. And if you have a home loan but no other debt, you should use your savings now to reduce the capital portion of the loan and help to keep your monthly repayments down when interest rates rise. At the same time you should make sure that you have a facility on your bond to reaccess any additional funds paid in, should you really need to do so.”

• Third, you need to cut your household spending to the bone and actively work at putting every additional Rand you can save or raise into becoming debt free as fast as possible “Do whatever it takes, from making your own lunch for work and not buying anything new except food and other absolute necessities, to selling your second car and any other extraneous

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belongings, and do it soon, before other people are also all trying to sell things and prices take a tumble.

• Fourth, if you have a hobby or a ‘weekend business’ that has been making you some extra cash, you should really nurture it now and try to find ways to grow your customer base and income from this source.

“Job loss is a risk in a declining economy and you need to face up to this and think about an alternative source of income if it should happen to you,” says Everitt.

“So if you or your partner already has a small business growing things, making things or fixing things, now is the time to take it seriously and put time and effort into it - especially if you are able to offer your products or services at good rates to others who are also trying to save money.

• Fifth, as soon as you have paid off your debt, you should stick to your frugal lifestyle and start saving or investing, as much as you can every month.

“By then, interest rates will have risen and you will be getting a better rate on anything that you can save.

Alternatively, the price of anything that you would like to buy, from shares to additional properties, is likely to be lower. And we all know that the real way to make money is to buy low and then sell high when the market turns again.”

• Sixth, if you are a homeowner, you should not panic and immediately put your property on the market without some proper planning.”

“Panic selling almost always results in owners losing a large part of the equity in their homes, and that will not only restrict their ability to buy another home but is also likely to damage their retirement prospects.

“Consequently if you believe you should sell now rather than risk losing your property as the economic situation gets worse, you should do so in a calm and planned way,” says Everitt.

“In addition, you must be sure to work with an agency group that has global reach as well as a national footprint. Remember, property sales are a function of exposure, so you need to list with the agency that will give your home the best exposure to potential buyers.”

• Seventh, if you are renting, you should consider moving somewhere cheaper or closer to work, so that you can save on rent or transport costs (or both)

and put that money towards paying off your debt and then saving or investing, he advises.

“If your intention is to become a homeowner one day, now is a good time to start getting ready. Rising interest rates will boost your deposit savings and slower home price growth will make it easier to afford the home you want - but only if you are in good financial shape and can qualify for a home loan. And getting a loan is going to get harder because the banks are always far more cautious about lending in a tight economy.”

• Eighth, Everitt says, you should definitely not take on any additional spending or financial responsibilities at this time.

“On the one hand, you must make sure all your insurance policies and provisions are up to date, and keep up the premium payments. This should be an essential part of your financial ‘survival plan’. But you should not be talked or panicked into paying for any extra cover, ‘special cover’ or ‘gap’ cover at the moment nor should you take on any new debt, or stand surety for anyone else’s debt even if they are a family member or close friend.

“In addition, if you are a homeowner, we don’t believe you should fix your bond rate now. There is always a premium for doing this and the chances are that you will end up paying a higher instalment for many months before the rise in actual interest rates justifies the extra expenditure.

“If you have the spare cash, just put it straight into your bond, lower the capital portion and avoid the effect of higher rates that way.”

• Ninth, if you do lose your job, you should not let it damage your self-worth, health, or well-being.

“You should remember that you are not alone, and that being retrenched is no reflection on your abilities, skills or personality. Once again, being despondent is only going to make things worse, so you should immediately start taking steps to remedy the situation.

“Update your CV, work with recruitment companies who might be able to help you, and do not be averse to taking a part-time or lowerpaid position until you find something more suitable.

“Be open to relocating and also think seriously about starting or building up your own business so that you will be less at the mercy of the economy in future.”

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Meet new Sotheby’s Plett agent Janet Sapire HE Lew Geffen Sotheby’s International Realty Plettenberg Bay office would like to welcome Janet Sapire - who has just relocated from Sotheby’s International Realty Fourways/ Dainfern - to their team.

Janet did her NQF4 and PDE in 2010 and started working at Sotheby’s early in 2014.

Originally from Johannesburg, Janet spent almost every holiday in Plettenberg Bay and dreamed of one day relocating to this beautiful part of the Garden Route.

This dream became a reality in January this year when she, together with her husband, decided that the lifestyle change would be the best for their family and two teenaged children.

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COMMITTED TO EXCEL: Janet Sapire has relocated to Plett with her husband and two children and is ready to serve to the best of her ability

Says Janet: “This is a very exciting change with a lot of competition and challenges. I work in a wonderful environment in an office with great colleagues and a

dynamic principal who are among the top agents in our country.

“Without a doubt, it is going to be a challenge and hard work to excel. I have the passion and the courage to move up the ladder to make myself a valuable asset to the company and to all those around me.”

Hein Pretorius, the owner broker, says: “In the short time Janet has been with our company she has shown her dedication to serving buyers and sellers with integrity and commitment. Her knowledge of the industry and area should make the transition to Plettenberg Bay an easy one.”

You can contact Janet on 083 344 4065 - and see the adverts on the cover and page 10 for current listings.

Chas Everitt Plett announces team awards

Chas Everitt’s Plettenberg Bay franchise had a great 2016 and was rewarded at the Eastern Cape/Garden Route Regional Awards function in Port Elizabeth last week. The team took the Top Non-Metro Office Award, and in the individual categories, Gold Outstanding Achievement Awards were presented to Laurette Storm, Anton Nell, and Bobby and Di Rogers. Principal John Fuller received a Platinum Outstanding Achievement Award and the Top Non-Metro Agent Award. The team thanks all its clients and colleagues for their wonderful support.

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PRINCIPAL: PROF SYBRAND V.D. BERG VICE PRINCIPAL: MARINETTE TEELING M.D.: RONEL VAN DER SIJDE TEL: 044 533 9513

info@equine-librium.co.za

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www.equine-librium.co.za

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12 April 2017

Holiday Activities

HOLIDAY ACTIVITIES

12 April 2017

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SO MUCH TO DO...

SO LITTLE TIME!

12 April 2017

HOLIDAY ACTIVITIES

12 April 2017 CXPRESS Holiday Activities

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Interval

12 April 2017

Staring is very rude

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friend hosted a dinner party for people from work and everyone was encouraged to bring their children.

During the sit-down dinner one co-worker’s threeyear-old girl stared at the man sitting across from her. The girl could hardly eat her food from staring.

The man checked his tie, felt his face for food, patted his hair in place,

but nothing stopped the girl from staring at him.

He tried his best to ignore her, but finally it was too much. He asked: “Excuse me, but why do you keep staring at me?”

Everyone at the table had noticed her behaviour, and went quiet for her response.

The little girl replied: “I just want to see how you drink like a fish.”

Please help the creature

M

uldoon lived alone in the Irish countryside with only a pet dog for company.

One day the dog died, and Muldoon went to the parish priest and asked: “Father, my dog is dead.

Could ya’ be sayin’ a mass for the poor creature?”

Father Patrick replied: “I’m afraid not. We cannot have services for an animal in the church.

But there are some Bap-

tists down the lane, and there’s no tellin’ what they might believe. Maybe they will do something for the creature.”

Muldoon said: “I’ll go right away, Father. Do ya’ think $5,000 is enough to donate to them for the service?”

Father Patrick exclaimed: “Sweet Mary, Mother of Jesus! Why didn’t ya’ tell me the dog was Catholic?”

In marriage, we argue as a team, my love…

I

was in my backyard trying to launch a kite.

I threw the kite up in the air, the wind would catch it for a few seconds, then it would come crashing back down to earth.

I tried this a few more times with no success.

All the while my wife, Vicki, was watching from the kitchen win-

dow, muttering to herself how men need to be told how to do everything.

She opened the window and yelled to me: “You need a piece of tail!”

I turned with a confused look on my face and yelled back: “Make up your mind. Last night, you told me to go fly a kite!”

Teacher, teacher!

• Johnny: “Teacher, can I go to the bathroom?”

Teacher: “Johnny, MAY I go to the bathroom?”

Johnny: “Okay, but I asked first!”

• The teacher was describing the dolphin and its

habits. “And, children,” she said impressively, “a single dolphin will have 2,000 offspring.”

“Goodness me!” gasped a little girl in the back row. “And how about married ones?”

Q: How many mystery writers does it take to change a light bulb?

A: Two, one to put it almost all the way in, and the other to give it a surprising twist at the end.

The mailbox conundrum

Mrs Morris was in her front yard watering her red roses when Mr Morris came out of the house and rushed straight to the mailbox, opened it, looked in, then slammed it shut and stormed back into the house.

As Mrs Morris was getting ready to prune the red roses, Mr Morris came back out to the mailbox, opened it again, felt all the way to the back, and then slammed it closed harder than ever.

Puzzled by her husband’s actions, Mrs Morris asked: “Is something wrong, honey?”

To which Mr Morris replied: “There certainly is! My stupid computer keeps saying ‘You’ve Got Mail’!”

ENTERTAINMENT

12 April 2017

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Vision drives ex-guard who’s now producing music Words and photos: Martin Hatchuel

VERYONE knows that breaking into the music industry is hard.

But imagine dreaming of breaking into the music industry while you’re working as a security guard.

Patrick Makosa did. And now that he’s finally making music full time, he’s

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planning to succeed - and, he said, it’s his vision that’ll get him there.

Patrick and his wife, Belinde Hashe, were the subjects of a bit of a stir on social media when they won the lucky draw at Tony Cox’s Knysna International Guitar Night: a Fender Malibu CSE acoustic guitar donated by Francois Wentzel of Sym-

phony of Sounds.

The couple moved to Knysna from Cape Town two years ago.

Patrick’s dream is to make a real difference in people’s lives, and he achieves this through music - and the recording studio he’s built in a shed in the back yard of their house in Concordia.

“I grew up DJing, but what I was really into was draw-

ing. I was accepted at art school in Cape Town, but I couldn’t attend because I was working full-time.”

In fact, it was his love of drawing - and the piles of paper he always had lying about his house - that got him his nickname: Mapatshena (“Mr Paperwork”), and that inspired the name of his business: Paperwork Production.

MR PAPERWORK: Patrick Makosa shows off the Fender Malibu CSE acoustic guitar he won at Tony Cox’s Knysna International Guitar Night, in front and inside of the studio where he is currently completing an EP of five songs for the Mossel Bay-based Mystiqflow, and a 12-song CD for the Condordia High School choir

Knysna author’s latest thriller sure to grip readers from cover to cover HAT makes Nick Whiteley’s new thriller so frightening is that it’s based on a factual event that could have ended in a catastrophe.

In 2007, four intruders neutralised the sophisticated electronic security system at the Pelindaba nuclear compound outside Pretoria. After gaining entry to the main

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building, the group came by chance upon an offduty fireman who raised the alarm.

They escaped, but four men were arrested soon afterwards. No details of the arrest were given by the SA Government, and no charges were ever brought.

While the government officials publicly dismissed the event as a

FACE YOUR FEAR… Weather permitting, author Nick Whiteley, above, will be launching his scary new thriller ‘A Gift from Allah’, see cover at right, at the George outdoor market on Easter Saturday

break-in by small-time thieves, the American intelligence services went into panic mode amid fears that the uranium 235 kept at Pelindaba - the essential ingredient for an atom bomb - could easily have found its way into the hands of terrorists.

The blurb on the back cover of the novel tells the story of a second break-in at the compound in 2016: Is the unthinkable about to happen?

On a moonless night, terrorists slip like wraiths into South Africa’s nuclear compound at Pelindaba, and escape with enough highly enriched uranium to use in a nuclear bomb. The target is chosen, and a bomb maker waits in a London flat to receive the uranium.

When the theft is discovered, a wave of panic sweeps over the international community. Is there an atom bomb in

rogue hands? Where and when will it be detonated?

The clock is ticking, and hundreds of thousands of lives are at stake as British police desperately seek leads. But where to look?

A nightmare is unfolding as a train hurtles through the Eurotunnel… a young jihadi holds the cell phone that will detonate the atom bomb under the sea.

Meanwhile, an American journalist in South Africa chances upon the truth and sees the opportunity of a lifetime.

--Scary to pick up, too frightening to put down, this is the chilling story that big publishers were too petrified to publish.

For those interested in acquiring a signed and numbered first edition copy of the novel, Nick Whiteley can be contacted on 082 410 0797. See the advert on this page for additional information.

“But eventually, in about 2000, I bought a computer, got some programmes, and started teaching myself how to do music.

“I did my first recordings around 2007, and started to gain my confidence from there.

“At a time when people were saying ‘you can’t rap because you’re not black’ or ‘you’re coloured,’ or ‘you’re Afrikaans’, I got them all to sing on one track that we called ‘Kings of Underground’.

“This was just before we left Cape Town to come to Knysna.”

But breaking into Knysna was possibly even harder than breaking into the music industry.

“I didn’t know anyone except my wife and kids when we arrived. I didn’t even know how to find people who wanted to record with me. But then I met SK (Sikahanyiso Magodla, the Arts and Culture Officer at Knysna Municipality) and that’s when things began to happen.

“He introduced me to most of the people I’m working with now.”

VISION “I want to help people who don’t have money to record, I want to help them

fulfil their dreams about music, and I want to encourage people and communities to use their music to address the things we don’t talk about.

“We always hear about HIV/Aids, but we don’t really talk about domestic violence or child and human trafficking, and we aren’t very serious about road safety.”

Patrick’s currently completing an EP of five songs for the Mossel Bay-based Mystiqflow, a 12-song CD for the Concordia High School choir (“About 60 voices - we recorded in the classroom!”) and five songs each for the five winning groups in the recently completed 2017 Tshisa Talent Show (see page 25) among others. He also works as a sound engineer for theatre productions.

Now that he’s found the artists, his next challenge will be convincing radio stations locally and around the country to give their work the airplay they deserve.

“It’s tough, and it’s tough when you don’t know the people, but we’ll make it happen,” he said.

Email Paperwork Production at patrickmakosa @gmail.com for additional information.

CXPRESS

PROMOTION

12 April 2017

NPO 067095 / PBO 930 034 181

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, Casual day 17 Get your School to support

International , Missing Children s Day

Thank you for bringing me home

SUPPORT INTERNATIONAL MISSING CHILDREN’S DAY BY MAKING A CONTRIBUTION TO MISSING CHILDREN SOUTH AFRICA.

The theme for civvies is the Colours of MCSA:

This is how:

1

25 May 2017 marks International Missing Children’s Day.

2

Organise a casual day for the 25th of May 2017.

3

Sell tickets to students, allowing them to wear civvies on this day.

4

Accumulate funds for your school and donate a percentage to Missing Children South Africa.

Encourage the children of your school to wear black, white or red, or a combination of these colours in order to show support for International Missing Childrens Day. The purpose of International Missing Children’s Day is to commemorate children who found their way back home, rem ember those who were victims,asaswell wellasasthe thecontinuous continuous rember those who were victims, efforts to find those who have not been found yet.

Let’s spread a message of hope. Support International Missing Children’s Day.

Should you wish to participate, please complete the form attached and fax it to Missing Children South Africa at 086 580 3310.

every time you shop give something back SWIPE OR GET YOUR FREE MYSCHOOL CARD AND HELP RAISE FUNDS FOR MISSING CHILDREN SOUTH AFRICA (MCSA) TO HELP FIGHT AGAINST HUMAN TRAFFICKING, AND IT WON’T COST YOU A CENT. ADD MCSA AS 1 OF YOUR 3 BENEFICIARIES OR CHANGE 1 OF YOUR 3 BENEFICIARIES TO MCSA.

www.myschool.co.za | www.missingchildren.org.za/page/myschool-card

Contact Missing Children South Africa for more information: info@missingchildren.org.za | 021 950 1546 www.missingchildren.org.za

12 April 2017 CXPRESS Social Scene BIG FOUR OH, BOLLYWOOD STYLE: Mandy Mcnicol (née Frielinghaus), left, and Lauren Foote (née Westwood) - pictured at left with hubbies Torquil and Matt, right, and young Becky Mcnicol in front - held a combined Bollywood-themed feast on Friday April 7 to celebrate the auspicious occasion of their collective Big Four Oh. The venue for this brilliant gathering of bling was Whales Restaurant, chosen for its location in the exact spot that served as Plett party mecca for a great many years: The Cave. If you’re not quite as, erm, wise and mature as the birthday gals in question, the significance of this fact may be lost on you. Suffice to say, it was a disco jorl in the true sense of the word where Mands, Lau & Co cut their teeth in the art of partying. To complete the picture, former Cave DJ Mike was in charge of the birthday tunes, and had an arsenal of hits on hand to ensure that dancing shoes weren’t donned in vain. Says Mandy: “Manuela and her Whales team were fantastic, spoiling us while Mike played ‘till the early hours, those Cave Classics being the most popular. Lauren and I were truly blessed to have loads of the ‘oldies’ joining us, so we partied the night away with friends we’ve had since nappy days or since our years at Plett Primary School - Mary Anne, Rhian, Juanita, Wayne, Candy, Mish, Jozi… too many to mention. What a night, thanks everyone for making it such a memorable occasion!”

Photos: Diane Goosen

People, places & events

DON ‘EM EASTER WALKING SHOES: Special spots abound in our natural paradise and the Hi-Tec Garden Route Walking Festival allows participants to discover a plethora of these, offering a vast range of hikes from April 14-17. Pictured at right is a view of Keurbooms Beach from the unique vantage point of Arch Rock. Find out how you can join in the hiking fun on page 17.

PICS AND TUNES: Celebrated photographer Klaus Oppenheimer presented a slide-show of some of his artful images set to matching music. The wellattended event took place at the studio cum gallery of famed local artist Myfanwy Bekker, pictured at left with Klaus, on the evening of Wednesday March 29.

Photo: Timothy Twidle

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Social Scene

EVERYBODY’S BUDDY: Plett Pocket Pal discount voucher booklet yielded two more Golden Ticket winners recently.

Congratulations to Diana from Plettenberg Bay who won the Milk & Honey Golden Ticket, while the lucky winner of the Pro Dive prize was Dylan, also from Plett.

Jangledbo Marketing’s Norman Doyle - the brain behind this brilliant discount initiative - says a BIG thank you to both Milk & Honey and Pro Dive. Call him on 079 712 2787 for more information and buy your very own Plett Pocket Pal to score big on discounts offered by a range of local businesses while standing a chance of winning one of various Golden Tickets. Pictured at left with Norman is ShowMe Plett’s Lynette during the April 3 launch of PPP’s next quarter at Beacon Isle KwikSpar.

impact professional property management

People, places & events

YOUTH WORKSHOP ROCKS: Knysna Municipality’s Youth Desk, in partnership with Mind Movement Entertainment and Events, hosted workshops on April 3 and 4 at Knysna Secondary School, following talent auditions held in February and March. The participants and various celebrities, including Afrotainment record label owner DJ Tira, actor and film producer Dumisani Dlamini, music producer Ngane Sikobi, fashion mogul and celebrity stylist Pamela James and choreographer and dancer Flexi were welcomed by Knysna mayor Eleanore Bouw-Spies, and councillors Cathy Weideman and Mandla Matiwane. Winners will have an opportunity to perform in the June 16 Youth Day celebrations at Loerie Park. The Youth Desk has started with preparations and are already engaging with the youth to see how they can play a role during the planning and implementation phases by utilising their photography, poster design, marketing and performing skills. “Thank you to our Youth Council and Youth Desk for organising the Youth Talent Development Programme.

Being our future leaders, we understand that we cannot have a vision to build a town where people prosper and not bring the youth into our planning and programmes. We are therefore grateful that Greater Knysna has a fully functional Youth Council and Youth Desk who have demonstrated a wealth of innovative ideas. I thank these energetic individuals for their vision,” said Bouw-Spies. The workshop concluded with group discussions conducted per ward, where participants had the opportunity to deliberate on the way forward for the Youth Day event. Pictured above from left are Dumisani with councillor Matiwane, mayco member Weideman, Flexi, mayor Bouw-Spies, Ngane, and Community Services seccie Shahida Sigula.

DRIVEN TO CELEBRATE SCIENCE: This pic shows the contingent of Murray High School students - from left at back are Sisonke Gqirhana, Science teacher Mrs Anathi Mkosi Tyontwana, Plett education stalwart André Bouwer and Linda Mehlo, with Phumelela Fatuse, Lilitha Bongoza, Phelokazi Kolisi and Zintle Ncedani in front - who recently attended Scifest Africa as reward for their academic prowess. Mr Bouwer kindly chauffeured the group to Grahamstown and back. Find out more about their trip, facilitated by the Bitou 10 Education Foundation, on page 9.

ROUTE KIDS RAISE FUNDS: Reign School of Creative Dance joined forces with the Plettenberg Bay Youth movement to present a successful fundraiser in aid of Hope Pregnancy Centre and Sunshine Sanctuary at Plett Community Church on March 25. Says the school’s Leigh Horn: “The evening was attended by over 300 people. We would like to thank the public and families of all the performers for their support, as well as the dancers and musicians for their great effort and hard work.” Pictured here are some of the talented young stars - all of whom attend pre-primary, primary and high schools between Plett and George, thus making the night a true showcase of Garden Route talent.

12 April 2017 CXPRESS Social Scene

Photos: Anja Wiehl

HOTTEST OF THE LOT: Since the talent at the Tshisa Finals in Knysna on March 25 was so sizzling that it made the judges’ job extremely difficult, allowance was made for a Most Promising Performer prize, which was won by vocalist Megan Charles. “We truly appreciate the support of the National Arts Council of South Africa, Knysna’s mayor and municipality, and Knysna Tourism. It was one of the greatest nights of their lives for many of these talented youngsters,” said Tshisa Talent founder Stuart Palmer. Besides cash prizes to improve their careers in a special Skills Building Workshop, winners also received music video productions at Brian Nkosi’s Born 2 Shine Studios. Brian, aka Zafie, was the winner of Tshisa Talent 2015.

Overall winner as well as top Song category contender was The Voices.

Winners of the Dance category was the Sakhulunthu Arts Group. The Drama category was hotly contested between the Moonstone Drama Group from Redefined 101, and Brown Theatre - both inspiring shows have appeared on numerous stages in SA. After a long debate, the judges decided to give the award to Jodene Brown. The Rap category was snatched up by Killer Toonz, pictured at left. “We have uncovered over 1,000 performers within the Plett and Knysna communities. Knysna can feel very proud of the quality of their talent. Our greatest desire is to help them launch sustainable careers. If anyone needs to add a local flavour to their entertainment platform, these youngsters offer a good option,” said Tshisa cofounder Mncedisi Ncedani of Jazztrain Live fame. Pictured at left from left are Stuart with Amanda Valela (judge and actress/ choreographer for Lunchbox Theatre), Most Promising Performer Megan, Zikhona Nweba-Monaheng (judge and manager of the National Arts Fringe and Cape Town Fringe Festivals), Henricus Gysman (judge aka DJ Rickey G from Eden FM), and Mncedisi.

People, places & events H2O AMBASSADORS RULE: Knysna Municipality has deployed 27 Water Ambassadors to assist with its ongoing awareness campaign.

Sourced from the Community Work Programme (CWP) database, these ambassadors started patrolling various wards on Monday April 10. They can be easily recognised by their CWP orange reflector jackets and identity cards with the municipal logo. Mayco member in charge of technical services, councillor Levael Davis explains: “As many of you may have read in the press and on our social media pages, the municipality implemented Level 3 water restrictions on March 20 as a result of the extreme low flow of our rivers and low level of Akkerkloof Dam. We immediately embarked on a campaign to educate residents on what exactly Level 3 water restrictions entail.

The deployment of CWP Water Ambassadors is one of various interventions we undertook to deal with Knysna’s water crisis.” The main function of the Water Ambassadors is creating awareness by giving water-saving advice. They will collect data regarding water and sewerage leaks, advise on water restricting-devices to be installed in previously-unmetered areas, and collect demographic data per ward. The latest stats taken on April 9 indicated that Akkerkloof Dam is 39% full; average consumption for Knysna is above the 10Ml/day target at 11.9Ml. Sedgefield’s is also over its target of 1.9Ml/day, currently at 2.48Ml. Davis pleaded with residents, visitors and businesses to continue saving water, as it’s everyone’s responsibility to conserve this precious resource.

Photos: Timothy Twidle

PLAYING AROUND: The band of Cape Town’s Rondebosch Boys High School concluded their Garden Route tour with a fine performance at Harkerville Market on March 25. The band had performed at Woodmill Lane in Knysna, and at Bitou’s Wittedrift High School and Piesang Valley halls, and also hosted a workshop for the Plett Pioneers Field Band. The market was thronged with visitors enjoying the fine weather and excellent music played by the boys.

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CXPRESS

CLASSIFIEDS

12 April 2017

HANDYMAN ON CALL Contact 082 492 4417 / 072 724 6590

Paws

Plett Animal Welfare Service

ON THE SOAPBOX

12 April 2017

Letters to the Editor

Email: editor@cxpress.co.za - Fax: 044 533 0852 - PO Box 1449, Plett 6600

It’s too late to panic: prepare to queue for water from tankers... from wherever As much as I’d like to let go of our water crisis, thoughts keep popping up into my head.

Due to lack of corrective action on the part of our councils over many years, it has occurred to me that should we survive the forthcoming water crisis, we will be in exactly the same position again and again!

A few weeks ago I asked this question: Why is Knysna’s reverse osmosis plant not being resurrected? [See ‘An answer to Knysna’s water questions’ on page 11 of the March 15 edition at www.cxpress.co.za.]

Municipal Manager Johnny Douglas indicated that immediate action would be taken.

But just recently, he commented that the plant was not working!

Is Knysna Municipality taking this water shortage thing seriously enough, other than threatening residents with punitive action for water wastage?

This problem is not of the residents’ making.

I find it difficult to understand why the council

has not opted to cancel any event that attracts thousands of visitors to Knysna (e.g. Simola Hillclimb) - where will the water come from?

I think the panic has set in far too late and I can see us all queuing up for water when tankers arrive from wherever.

Charming.

Richard, Knysna

CXPRESS

Read CXPRESS online at www.cxpress.co.za

sunglass boutique que

Dear Madam Editor, please help me understand!

I need one of your more erudite readers to help me understand democracy.

It suddenly occurred to me that I hadn’t voted for Mr Zuma. The way the system works, as I understand it, is the voter votes for a party (not braai and booze) which in turn elects delegates who elect delegates who elect delegates, etc., etc. - which

eventually wind up with a bunch of cronies who decide who would spread the most largesse, and he is crowned President. Am I sort of right so far?

Julius Caesar found out he’d got too big for his boots when it was explained to him by Brutus and Cassius. Caesar was at a total loss for words.

All he could say was ‘Et

So long, Simon Valentine - we’ll miss your strength Every now and again there comes to Plett someone who has not come to retire and moan about future developments, but who gets off his backside to create an addition to why we live here.

They fight the petty bureaucracy; fight to change outdated planning restrains and contribute things of value.

Unfortunately, we have just lost one of them: Simon Valentine was one of those people.

He brought with him that great creative strength that Southern Africa breeds in the doer, that nothing will stop that great energy that gets up in the morning and gets on with it.

Simon Valentine was that sort of man. He created and built Emily Moon out of his hard work and his son Mark’s creative flair.

Of course, it was combined with that bubbly, charming personality of Di, whose lipstick and shoes always match.

Early mornings at Pennies will never be the same: he loaded up to get on with his building.

He never stopped and nothing was too much for him. For him work

was the food of life. He was a true son of Africa.

The value or his life was the legacy he left behind.

We and his family must be grateful for that inheritance.

Simon and Di can be incredibly proud of the children they produced with all their incredible talents.

We, his friends, and all those he met from all over the world, will miss him deeply and although as a man of 81, he was cut off in his prime, Simon still had so much to do and enjoy. We all feel deeply for Di and the family, and we’re so happy to have you with us so that we may demonstrate what a caring community we are.

I have a twinge of sympathy with the good Lord above; I doubt whether any decisions will go unquestioned and advice not given.

Hamba Kahle, Simon - you will be sorely missed, we truly will not see your like again.

To use the words attributed to Sir Christopher: ‘If you seek his monument, look about you when you go to Emily Moon.’

Paul Deans, Plett

tu Brute, heh heh heh’.

We have a population of approximately 50 million, many of whom are starving or dressed in rags. A Chinese gentleman, Mr Eleven Jin Ping, wants to supply subsidised clothing, but the South African clothing industry wants to block it.

Assuming there are 50,000 garment work-

ers (just to simplify the maths), this means 1% of the population is having their way.

Similarly, the EU is making affordable chicken available, but this is being blocked by the self-serving chicken producers here.

Again a tiny minority.

Is this democracy, or the ugly face of capitalism?

Higorant, Plett

A bit of feedback…

The letter Robberg Beach is big enough for all of us [turn to page 19 of the April 5 edition at www. cxpress.co.za] refers.

I have two wonderful dogs, both well trained, but do not walk them on the beach - leash or not.

Why? I have been attacked several times by those loving, free-running dogs on Robberg Beach - my youngest son, too, while playing in the surf.

So, to the Hammels and friends: if you want to walk a dog on the beach, have it on a leash. Period.

Or you might just lose that precious dog, if it is running free and try its luck with me or my family.

We are FED-UP with dogs and their owners that are out of control, and also with stepping in your mess on our Blue Flag beaches.

Fed-Up Plettonian, by email --I smiled at your tale ‘Rapid train service’ on the jokes page of March 29 [turn to page 8 of that edition at www.cxpress. co.za].

Here’s another - this one supposedly from The Ghan line in Australia (old, archaic, now abandoned and superseded by a modern replacement on the relatively recently completed through-route from Port Augusta north to Darwin). :

Seems there was this well-pregnant lady who caught the train one week at one of its intermediate stops, bound for a maternity hospital at its terminus.

After a succession of unexplained, lengthy delays she asked the travelling conductor: “How much longer do you think…?”

He wasn’t able to satisfy her understandable concerns, but did observe that “perhaps she shouldn’t have boarded the train, in her condition”.

To this gratuitous suggestion she replied emphatically: “When I got on the train I wasn’t IN this condition.”

Mike Johns, by email --We wish to thank everyone at CXPRESS who had a part in placing the photos and write-up on our wedding anniversary in your issue of March 22 [see page 9 of that edition at www.cxpress.co.za].

It was very nicely done.

Thank you, too, for your good wishes. We do enjoy reading your newspaper.

It brings people together.

In this regard, we refer to the letter from Rita Hardaker in the April 5 issue [see page 19 at www. cxpress.co.za]. We have made contact with her through email and hope to meet with her soon.

Andrew and Shirley, Plett

The only pharmacy in Main Street

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CXPRESS

SPORT & ADVENTURE

12 April 2017

Southern Cape Angling makes its mark, deep and ‘shore’…

OTH deep-sea and shore anglers from the Southern Cape have been making their presence felt around the country in various competitions recently.

The shore anglers have almost completed their summer league and have fished in some prestigious competitions. Local angler Renier Nortje was awarded his Protea colours, making his club very proud.

Also representing well on the shore angling side was club chair Carlo Erasmus, team captain Andrew Wood and, of course, Plettenberg Bay Ski-Boat Association (PBSA) Shore Angler of 2016, Kallie Erasmus.

Deep-sea angling was the order of the ‘bay’ during

B

the recent 2017 All Coastal Inter-provincial held in Struisbaai. Not even the prevailing gusts of wind could deter the two participating CX Country teams.

Comprising members hailing exclusively from Plett, they came in at forth and ninth places respectively against some seriously stiff competition from around South Africa.

Said deep-sea novice Thys Uys when asked about his Struisbaai experience: “As newcomer in the team, I have been on a learning curve of note. There is no substitute for experience, and I now know that preparation is paramount.

“It’s really hard to describe what I felt when

landing my first yellowtail amazing how quick half an hour can pass when fighting a fish of that magnitude! If there had been a prize for most shark species, octopus or barbel caught, we would have won gold for sure!

“I think ‘privileged’ is the word that has been lingering since Struisbaai. And if anyone needs a course on cleaning fish in the rain and dark, Chris and Rod are experts. But the company was really great, thanks guys.”

As you read here, young deep-sea locals are competing in the 2017 Junior Nationals hosted by Port Alfred, and both PBSA chairman Chris Schorn and vice chair Rod Kieser are attending the event to keep an

eye on these future stars.

Resident and visiting fishermen should diarise Friday April 14 (rain date on the 15th), when Plettenberg Bay Ski-boat Association hosts its annual deepsea biggest edibles fishing competition. Take note, too, that an inaugural rock and surf competition takes place on April 30.

Call Rod [no, really…] with deep-sea queries on 082 590 4263, and Carlo on 082 851 5806 for details about the rock and surf competition, and see the advert on page 18 for additional information.

AWAY BAY ANGLERS: The deep-sea team who represented CX Country at the All Coastal 2017 were, from left, Chris Schorn, Rod Kieser, Thys Uys, Koos Scholtz, Terry Terblance, and Johan Crause

Quality rules at Knysna Motor Show 2017 NYSNA Motor Show (KMS) is sponsored by Sanlam Private Wealth and scheduled this year for Sunday April 30 at the Knysna High School grounds on Waterfront Drive.

With both Thursday the 27th and Monday May 1 being public holidays, folks from out of town have the opportunity of enjoying a wonderful long weekend on the beautiful Garden Route, and should be sure to diarise this prizewinning local offering.

Organised by the Garden Route Motor Club (GRMC), the event is now recognised as one of the premier and best organised motor shows in SA. The 2016 show turned out to be a real blockbuster with the most fantastic cars and motorcycles on display.

KMS continues to grow in stature and has attracted interest from across the land.

Last year, 430 cars and mo-

K

torcycles were on display including vintage and veteran cars, classic sports cars, and vintage and classic motorcycles - all of top quality and not often seen by the public.

The strategy adopted by the organisers, of personally selecting and inviting participants, has clearly been successful. The maximum number of cars and motorcycles to be displayed at this year’s show has been fixed at around 500.

The KMS vision is to stage an automobile extravaganza where quality and interesting displays are the key objective, rather than the number of cars and motorcycles featured.

Says GRMC chair Peter Pretorius: “The objective for 2017 is again to lift the standard and make it a motor show with a difference by providing the opportunity for owners of high quality and unique cars to display their vehi-

cles in a country style and relaxed atmosphere.

“With popularity growing and the show taking place over a long weekend, we expect that last year’s record number of 5,000 visitors will be exceeded.”

Besides providing the fellowship enjoyed by likeminded people, exhibitors and the public, KMS has been the source of much-needed funds for local charities. “In 2016 we distributed R60,000 with the main beneficiaries being Hospice, Knysna Animal Welfare, the E-Pap children’s feeding scheme, and Famsa. Over the past four years, more than R200,000 have been distributed to deserving charities,” concludes Pretorius.

Contact him at peterp@ afrihost.co.za or on 082 321 4724, or visit www.grmc. co.za for details on this exceptional Easter event, and see the advert on this page for more information.

NSRI Emergency numbers Knysna 082 990 5956 Plettenberg Bay 082 990 5975 Wilderness 082 990 5955